Organs of 361 babies kept in Belfast hospital

The organs of 361 babies are being stored at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

They were removed without consent over a period of more than half a century, claims Dr Claire Thornton, Northern Ireland's regional paediatric pathologist.

The Royal Hospitals Trust has confirmed it did not seek parental consent until December l999.

After the scandals at Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital and Bristol Royal Infirmary, health chiefs have implemented a system to ensure no organs can be removed without written permission.

More than 150 of the 36l organs were removed more than 30 years ago. One dates back to l944. The hospital has a list of names and all the organs have been properly catalogued, a spokeswoman said.

She added: "At the time, the practice was not wrong. It was done with the best of intentions, primarily to find out why a child had died and to prevent similar complications for other members of their families. What was done was in keeping with best practice."

But a system is now in place "to ensure that no organs can be removed without written permission, that parents fully understand the procedure and that the babies' bodies are treated with respect and dignity".

Northern Ireland health minister Bairbre de Brun said the paediatric pathology service worked closely with parents and clinicians. But officials would also advise her on how lessons emerging from the Alder Hey inquiry should influence future practice.

Dr Thornton insisted today the organs were kept for diagnostic purposes, not research.